steeplechase

In athletics, a running race that involves jumping obstacles. It entered the 1900 Olympic Games as a track event, held on an arena track with runners required to jump a hurdle and water jump once each lap.

The steeplechase was born out of a wager among Oxford University students in 1850. Initially held over two miles, early steeplechases were cross-country, crossing hurdles, streams, and other obstacles. The current standard steeplechase distance is 3,000 m. Kenya have won every Olympic Games steeplechase gold medal since 1984. The steeplechase is also a type of horse race.